PhD opportunity in magma degassing at Lancaster University
*****************************************************************************************************
We are seeking excellent candidates for a PhD on magma degassing at the Lancaster Environment Centre (U.K.), to start in October 2015. Applicants should be graduates, or those who expect to graduate in 2015, with a good BSc or Masters degree in quantitative science such as Physics, Geology or Environmental Science. You must have demonstrable potential for creative, high-quality PhD research and a real enthusiasm for joining a large and vibrant department. A full studentship (UK/EU tuition fees and stipend (£13,863 2014/15 [tax free])) is available for UK/EU students for 3.5 years. Unfortunately studentships are not available to non-UK/EU applicants. Please note the close deadline for applications: Wednesday 4 February, 2015.
Further information is given below and online (with links for applying):
For informal discussion about the position, please contact Dr Mike James (m.james@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx).
For any queries on the application process please email Andy Harrod (lec.pg@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx).
Magma degassing: bridging fluid dynamics, geology and geochemistry.
Supervisors: Mike James, Steve Lane and Hugh Tuffen, Mike Burton
Volcanic eruptions are driven by the expansion of gases exsolving from ascending magma. Efficient gas escape from the magma allows gentle lava effusion to occur, but trapping of gas leads to pressurization and explosive eruptions. Therefore, understanding gas escape from magma is central to eruption forecasting and hazard mitigation. Gas escape mechanisms range from bubble-bubble interactions, predominant in low viscosity magmas, to brittle cracking and fragmentation in high viscosity magmas. Analogue experimentation can yield key insights into degassing processes but, as parameters across the complete spectrum of ductile and brittle mechanisms have yet to be characterised, degassing efficiencies cannot currently be adequately forecast across a wide range of magma types. To address this you will carry out a programme of research that combines experimental, geological and geochemical approaches to provide improved constraints on degassing processes.
You will use magma analogue materials such as Golden Syrup and gum rosin to simulate deformation and degassing of magma within volcanic conduits. Through these laboratory experiments you will characterise both the ductile- and brittle-based degassing behaviour of variably viscous bubbly fluids undergoing shear and decompression. Using your results you will build a new theoretical framework that embraces ductile processes such as bubble bursting in Strombolian events and brittle processes such as ash venting in rhyolitic eruptions. You will then be able to compare experimental results with constraints on brittle degassing processes provided by textures and geochemistry of the rhyolitic vent at Cordón Caulle in Chile. There is additionally scope for you to apply your new model to interpret remotely sensed gas emission data collected routinely at active basaltic volcanoes.
What’s in it for you
Become expert in the processes of magma degassing. You will receive training in a wide range of fluid dynamic laboratory techniques, and associated data processing software. You will receive training in volatile content analysis of volcanic glasses and quantitative textural analysis of vent rock samples. The project will involve interaction with experts from fields covering the remote sensing of volcanic gases to conduit dynamics, and may also offer opportunities for fieldwork in Chile and Sicily.
Join an exciting research environment. You will benefit from the research training programmes offered by the Faculty of Science and Technology at Lancaster University, by being part of the large and vibrant Lancaster Environment Centre and by becoming a member of the Geoscience research group.
Mike James
Steve Lane
Hugh Tuffen
Mike BurtonVolcano Listserv is a collaborative venture among Arizona State University (ASU), Portland State University (PSU), the Global Volcanism Program (GVP) of the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History, and the International Association for Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior (IAVCEI).
ASU - http://www.asu.edu/ PSU - http://pdx.edu/ GVP - http://www.volcano.si.edu/ IAVCEI - http://www.iavcei.org/
To unsubscribe from the volcano list, send the message: signoff volcano to: listserv@xxxxxxx, or write to: volcano-request@xxxxxxx.
To contribute to the volcano list, send your message to: volcano@xxxxxxx. Please do not send attachments.
==============================================================
